Kane fell to the ground, a sudden pain shooting through his chest. He gasped for air, more than aware of the dull red liquid slowly staining the sand around him. He lifted his head and made a feeble attempt to shout for help. His vision blurred, he tried to focus on the direction of the gunshot. Finally losing his battle, he blacked out.
Shoving the gun underneath their coat, the figure crouches down, slowly moving away from the scene. The beach was deserted at this time of the evening. They discreetly step out from the bushes onto the pathway. The attention was on Kane now. Several people were running towards him to offer assistance. All that was left to do was wait for news.
"Phone an ambulance"
"Look, does anyone know who he is?"
"Yeah, Kane Phillips... this was long overdue"
"He got what was coming to him"
The small congregation around Kane mumbled to themselves as one man called for an ambulance.
"Hey..."
Flynn draws closer and the group parts, allowing him to see Kane's crumpled body. The doctor in him sprang into action as he knelt beside Kane and felt for a pulse.
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Rhys talks down the phone.
"She's not in at the minute... yes, I'll tell her... thanks Flynn"
He replaces the handset as Kirsty enters the house.
"Hey Dad - do you know what's going on down the beach - it's being cordoned off - there's police everywhere"
"Um... yeah... there's been an accident Kirst"
Kirsty looked at Rhys. She could sense what it was. Kane had been meant to meet her on the beach. She had been late due to Jade turning up twenty minutes late for her shift at the kiosk with no explanation.
"It's Kane isn't it?"
"Yeah... he's in hospital"
"What?! Is he alright?"
"He was shot - Flynn's at the hospital now - he says he'll call when there's more news"
"Shot?!"
Kirsty stared at her father in shock and disbelief. She knew Kane had enemies but who would do a thing like this?
"I've got to get down there"
"Kirsty, I think it's best if you stay here"
"How did you work that one out - look, my boyfriend is in hospital and the least I can do is be there for him"
She left before Rhys was able to object. He scowled. He hated thinking of Kane as her boyfriend but he couldn't very well start laying into her. She had looked so fragile when he broke the news. It pained him to see his daughters so broken. He'd do anything to keep them safe.
..............................
HOSPITAL
Kirsty rushes into the waiting room and is greeting by Flynn
"Where is he? Is he going to be alright?"
Kirsty's voice was shaky. Desperate.
"The doctors said he'll be fine"
"Can I see him?"
"Family only"
"He hasn't got any family"
Almost on cue a nurse approached them.
"Are you a family member?"
"No... well..."
She glanced at Flynn.
"I'm his fiancée"
"Come this way"
She was lead into a room almost filled with machines. In the centre, Kane was lying flat on the bed, eyes closed, hundreds of tubes going into him. She had never seen him so pale. So lifeless. She sat down on the chair next to the bed.
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Nick enters
"Hi... is Jade about?"
"No - she'll be at the kiosk... I suppose you've heard what happened - Kane"
"Yeah - I should think the whole Bay knows by now"
"They'll have me down as the prime suspect"
"They'll have us all down as suspects - it's ridiculous... it'll probably be one of his thug mates decided to give him what he deserves"
Rhys nodded in agreement before glancing thoughtfully at Nick.
"You got an alibi?"
"No... you?"
Rhys shook his head.
"We could say we were both here - the football was on. Just say we were watching it together"
Nick considered the offer before nodding.
"Yeah... at least the cops won't be chasing after us... what harm can it do?"
..............................
HOSPITAL
Morning
Kane opened his eyes slowly, trying to adjust to the bright lights. He tried to move his arm, but found it pinned down. Pain shot through his body as he attempted to raise his head. His head was throbbing. He could make out a shape leant over the side of the bed.
"Kirst...?"
He made another attempt to move his arm, slowly awaking her.
"Kane!"
She was exhausted but her delight was obvious.
"What happened?"
"Not much... someone just tried to kill you"
"Is that what the fuss is about?"
He motions towards the armed policeman outside the door of his room
"Can you remember who it was?"
Kane shook his head. He could barely remember anything.
..............................
Kane flicked through an old magazine. Kirsty had left ten minutes ago after a call from Rhys. A young man in a suit stepped up to his bedside.
"Mr Kane Phillips?"
"Yeah?"
"Detective Constable Birkett"
He reached into his jacket and produced his ID. Kane nodded.
"You found them yet?"
"Not yet... but we have to ask you a few questions"
Birkett was unnerved by Kane's glare. His evident disrespect of the force. He shuffled anxiously. His first day in CID. He glanced toward the doorway. He'd expected Carter to be there already.
"Such as?"
"Well... do you know anyone who might hold a grudge against you for any reason?"
Kane looked up at the man. His face was deadly serious.
"Was that meant to be some sort of bloody joke?!"
Now he just looked confused. He had no idea who this man was. He had heard whispers about the Phillips family but he'd assumed it was rumours.
"Mr Phillips, I'm just trying to do my job"
Carter stepped into the room
"So... Kane Phillips... we meet again"
Kane scowled at this overly familiar face. He was getting fed up of the attention. He couldn't remember anything since glancing at his watch. The time had been 7:17. Kirsty had been due to meet him at 7:00. That was when her shift at the kiosk finished. Everything afterwards was a blur. The doctors had said that he had a good chance of recovering his memory. He recited the information reluctantly to Carter.
..............................
Carter and Birkett left Kane's room, meeting Flynn in the waiting room as Flynn discussed Kane's progress with Dr Wilson.
"Dr Saunders?"
"Yeah"
Flynn looked at them inquisitively.
"You were at the scene?"
"Yeah - I got there quite soon after it happened"
"Did you see anyone?"
"No... well, I wasn't looking"
He glanced from one officer to another. Carter nodded.
"I understand you used to work with Shelley Sutherland - and you're Dani's counsellor"
"Yeah"
"Must be tough - I understand you once counselled Kane as well"
"Yeah... what's this got to do with anything?"
Carter glared at Flynn
"I'm just trying to establish everyone's connection with Mr Phillips - it's procedure"
"You mean I'm a suspect?"
Flynn's voice was sharp. More agitated than he had intended.
"We have to cover every possibility... thank you for your time Dr Saunders"
Flynn nodded and walked away, to continue his conversation with Dr Wilson. Birkett turned to Carter. Birkett looked across at Carter,
"He was sensitive"
"Yes... and I understand he spent some time in the army... it would have taken a good shot to hit a target from that distance"
..............................
DINER
"I just have to ask you where you were at about 7:20 last night"
Carter had just begun his enquiries into Kane's connections within the Bay. He had discovered a tangled web of heartache and violence. There were a lot of people with strong motives to want Kane out of the way. First on his list had been Seb Miller.
"I was here - all night"
"You didn't go out?"
"No"
"Can anyone back that up?"
"My uncle Alf - he was working in the diner all evening - he'd have seen me leave"
Carter nodded and rose from his seat. He'd need to check the alibi but this boy seemed harmless enough by all accounts.
"Thanks for your time Seb"
He turned and walked towards the door. Seb watched him leave, before sinking back into the armchair thoughtfully.
Shoving the gun underneath their coat, the figure crouches down, slowly moving away from the scene. The beach was deserted at this time of the evening. They discreetly step out from the bushes onto the pathway. The attention was on Kane now. Several people were running towards him to offer assistance. All that was left to do was wait for news.
"Phone an ambulance"
"Look, does anyone know who he is?"
"Yeah, Kane Phillips... this was long overdue"
"He got what was coming to him"
The small congregation around Kane mumbled to themselves as one man called for an ambulance.
"Hey..."
Flynn draws closer and the group parts, allowing him to see Kane's crumpled body. The doctor in him sprang into action as he knelt beside Kane and felt for a pulse.
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Rhys talks down the phone.
"She's not in at the minute... yes, I'll tell her... thanks Flynn"
He replaces the handset as Kirsty enters the house.
"Hey Dad - do you know what's going on down the beach - it's being cordoned off - there's police everywhere"
"Um... yeah... there's been an accident Kirst"
Kirsty looked at Rhys. She could sense what it was. Kane had been meant to meet her on the beach. She had been late due to Jade turning up twenty minutes late for her shift at the kiosk with no explanation.
"It's Kane isn't it?"
"Yeah... he's in hospital"
"What?! Is he alright?"
"He was shot - Flynn's at the hospital now - he says he'll call when there's more news"
"Shot?!"
Kirsty stared at her father in shock and disbelief. She knew Kane had enemies but who would do a thing like this?
"I've got to get down there"
"Kirsty, I think it's best if you stay here"
"How did you work that one out - look, my boyfriend is in hospital and the least I can do is be there for him"
She left before Rhys was able to object. He scowled. He hated thinking of Kane as her boyfriend but he couldn't very well start laying into her. She had looked so fragile when he broke the news. It pained him to see his daughters so broken. He'd do anything to keep them safe.
..............................
HOSPITAL
Kirsty rushes into the waiting room and is greeting by Flynn
"Where is he? Is he going to be alright?"
Kirsty's voice was shaky. Desperate.
"The doctors said he'll be fine"
"Can I see him?"
"Family only"
"He hasn't got any family"
Almost on cue a nurse approached them.
"Are you a family member?"
"No... well..."
She glanced at Flynn.
"I'm his fiancée"
"Come this way"
She was lead into a room almost filled with machines. In the centre, Kane was lying flat on the bed, eyes closed, hundreds of tubes going into him. She had never seen him so pale. So lifeless. She sat down on the chair next to the bed.
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Nick enters
"Hi... is Jade about?"
"No - she'll be at the kiosk... I suppose you've heard what happened - Kane"
"Yeah - I should think the whole Bay knows by now"
"They'll have me down as the prime suspect"
"They'll have us all down as suspects - it's ridiculous... it'll probably be one of his thug mates decided to give him what he deserves"
Rhys nodded in agreement before glancing thoughtfully at Nick.
"You got an alibi?"
"No... you?"
Rhys shook his head.
"We could say we were both here - the football was on. Just say we were watching it together"
Nick considered the offer before nodding.
"Yeah... at least the cops won't be chasing after us... what harm can it do?"
..............................
HOSPITAL
Morning
Kane opened his eyes slowly, trying to adjust to the bright lights. He tried to move his arm, but found it pinned down. Pain shot through his body as he attempted to raise his head. His head was throbbing. He could make out a shape leant over the side of the bed.
"Kirst...?"
He made another attempt to move his arm, slowly awaking her.
"Kane!"
She was exhausted but her delight was obvious.
"What happened?"
"Not much... someone just tried to kill you"
"Is that what the fuss is about?"
He motions towards the armed policeman outside the door of his room
"Can you remember who it was?"
Kane shook his head. He could barely remember anything.
..............................
Kane flicked through an old magazine. Kirsty had left ten minutes ago after a call from Rhys. A young man in a suit stepped up to his bedside.
"Mr Kane Phillips?"
"Yeah?"
"Detective Constable Birkett"
He reached into his jacket and produced his ID. Kane nodded.
"You found them yet?"
"Not yet... but we have to ask you a few questions"
Birkett was unnerved by Kane's glare. His evident disrespect of the force. He shuffled anxiously. His first day in CID. He glanced toward the doorway. He'd expected Carter to be there already.
"Such as?"
"Well... do you know anyone who might hold a grudge against you for any reason?"
Kane looked up at the man. His face was deadly serious.
"Was that meant to be some sort of bloody joke?!"
Now he just looked confused. He had no idea who this man was. He had heard whispers about the Phillips family but he'd assumed it was rumours.
"Mr Phillips, I'm just trying to do my job"
Carter stepped into the room
"So... Kane Phillips... we meet again"
Kane scowled at this overly familiar face. He was getting fed up of the attention. He couldn't remember anything since glancing at his watch. The time had been 7:17. Kirsty had been due to meet him at 7:00. That was when her shift at the kiosk finished. Everything afterwards was a blur. The doctors had said that he had a good chance of recovering his memory. He recited the information reluctantly to Carter.
..............................
Carter and Birkett left Kane's room, meeting Flynn in the waiting room as Flynn discussed Kane's progress with Dr Wilson.
"Dr Saunders?"
"Yeah"
Flynn looked at them inquisitively.
"You were at the scene?"
"Yeah - I got there quite soon after it happened"
"Did you see anyone?"
"No... well, I wasn't looking"
He glanced from one officer to another. Carter nodded.
"I understand you used to work with Shelley Sutherland - and you're Dani's counsellor"
"Yeah"
"Must be tough - I understand you once counselled Kane as well"
"Yeah... what's this got to do with anything?"
Carter glared at Flynn
"I'm just trying to establish everyone's connection with Mr Phillips - it's procedure"
"You mean I'm a suspect?"
Flynn's voice was sharp. More agitated than he had intended.
"We have to cover every possibility... thank you for your time Dr Saunders"
Flynn nodded and walked away, to continue his conversation with Dr Wilson. Birkett turned to Carter. Birkett looked across at Carter,
"He was sensitive"
"Yes... and I understand he spent some time in the army... it would have taken a good shot to hit a target from that distance"
..............................
DINER
"I just have to ask you where you were at about 7:20 last night"
Carter had just begun his enquiries into Kane's connections within the Bay. He had discovered a tangled web of heartache and violence. There were a lot of people with strong motives to want Kane out of the way. First on his list had been Seb Miller.
"I was here - all night"
"You didn't go out?"
"No"
"Can anyone back that up?"
"My uncle Alf - he was working in the diner all evening - he'd have seen me leave"
Carter nodded and rose from his seat. He'd need to check the alibi but this boy seemed harmless enough by all accounts.
"Thanks for your time Seb"
He turned and walked towards the door. Seb watched him leave, before sinking back into the armchair thoughtfully.